Immigrant Students, Their Legal Right of Access to Public Schools. A Guide for Advocates and Educators. Revised.

Carrera, John Willshire

This updated version of a 1989 document of the same title represents a guide to the immigrant student's legal right of access to public schools based on the 1982 United States Supreme Court ruling in "Plyler v. Doe." Following an introduction, the first of three sections, "School Practices," addresses everyday school practices by outlining prohibited and recommended practices concerning registration, documentation, verification, relations with the Immigration and Naturalization Service, staff training, the need for regulations and rumor control, along with recommended actions for state and local education agencies. The second section, "The Right of Access," addresses the Plyler ruling itself, and the legal reasoning behind it. The third section, "Parents and Advocates," addresses the role of parents and community members in ensuring that schools abide by and respect Plyler and other educational rights of immigrant students. This section contains supplements on foreign student status and relevant search and seizure legislation written to provide more in-depth legal information. In certain parts of the first two sections, statements of principles address the specific issues at hand, while a later format enables readers to choose the level of analysis they wish to pursue. A table of cases, endnotes, list of contacts, an appendix of sample materials, and a 20-item bibliography are included. (CM)